Fear not!

Torpedo learned one thing in Sunbeam class today after the entire lesson about Jesus’ birth which included pictures of him and his classmate as babies together, a nativity set they could play with, a present to bring home, etc... The one thing he learned is, “Fear not!” He says it loud and often. I think if he keeps it up that will be really good for me. Can you imagine every 30-60 minutes hearing “Fear not!” Yeah, we could all use a little of that.

It reminded me of the angel in this favorite book who says, "Shazaaam!" instead of "Fear not!" but I think the message is the same.

Just Getting a Cookie

In one of my favorite scenes from Kung Fu Panda Po has failed in his condensed training program and is stuffing his face while all the capable warriors head out to stop the unbeatable foe. Master Shifu tells Po not to eat Monkey's cookies hidden on the top shelf. Two seconds later, Shifu finds Po holding himself to the ceiling in perfect splits on opposing cabinets. Shifu asks Po how he could possible do in the kitchen what he could not do in training. Po says, "I was just getting a cookie."

I am continually impressed, amazed, inspired (read-intimidated) by what everyone I know is able to accomplish. Whenever I do something it feels like no big deal because it was just me and I was just doing this one thing and it wasn't as glamorous as it sounds, etc. I'm just getting a cookie. Maybe next time I get my visiting teaching done or hit all of the day's subjects in school or feed my family another meal or get to sleep before 2 a.m. I will remember that there is no secret ingredient. I am the Dragon Warrior.


P.S. The Dragon Warrior loves cookies.

P.P.S. More of the Dragon Warrior's favorite lines from Kung Fu Panda:

There is no charge for awesomeness.

'Sorry' doesn't make the noodles.

Encouragement

I want to be a writer.  SumGreater says that part of that is collecting a wall full of rejection letters proving my courage to write anyway.  My Mom said something similar about stretch marks after my first child and I didn't believe her either.  I had an essay proposal accepted to be part of a book.  My first essay was too narrative, my second essay was the same topic as two other essays already being included and my third essay was "valuable and interesting," but "not a good match."  Being rejected three times by this obscure project with an obscure publisher that was going to pay nothing anyway, did not make me feel courageous.  I haven't wanted to write anything at all- not even a to-do list.  

My Hero and SumGreater have both been so encouraging.  Family members are often the first ones to point out our flaws.  Perhaps they hope to save us from future ridicule by letting us know we've forgotten our pants before we walk out the door.  More often, they prevent us from ever leaving the house.  But these two continually praise what good I have to offer and lovingly share ideas for improvement only when I ask for them.   This works for me since I'm sure most of it is "eh-stinky," as we say at our house.  It's nice to have someone saying, "Save that.  It's working."  Continual encouragement is definitely a better motivator than rejection.  I'll be thinking about that this week.  And I'll be writing.